Stop the prank calls, please –Bureau of Fire
THE undermanned Bureau of Fire Protection in Dagupan city made one request to the public – no prank calls please.
SFO2 Dan Ortega said despite efforts to tell the public to be responsible in reporting fire occurrences, prank calls still continue and most are made before the break of dawn.
Aside from time, effort and gasoline wasted, firemen also risk meeting accidents while rushing to a fire call, he explained.
“The success of fire fighting not only depends on firemen but most importantly with the help of community,” Ortega said during the KBP Forum held at the Philippine Information Agency Office on Thursday.
He said the bureau finally installed caller ID in their phones and held lectures in communities on responsible fire incidence reporting in a bid to make people understand the consequences of prank calls.
Meanwhile, Ortega said BFP in Dagupan is badly undermanned and needs additional personnel who will conduct fire inspection on all business establishments in the city numbering over 5,000.
The inspection is required before business permits can be renewed or issued.
He said his office has only 16 men and not all of them are involved in fire inspection of establishments renewing their business permits.
Under the Local Government Code, business establishments need to present their fire inspection certificates duly issued by the BFP before they are issued their corresponding building permits, adding that this is also provided in the Fire Code and Building Code of the Philippines.
But before the BFP can issue the fire inspection certificates, the establishments need to be inspected.
He said the city is fortunate that there is the Panda Firefighting Brigade of the local Chinese community, two fire engines of USATV cable television, one brand new fire engine and a water tank of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and a fire engine of Star Plaza Hotel.
BFP chief F/Inspector Romie Tungpalan is advocating the formation and training of members of Barangay Volunteer Firefighting Brigade who will be the first responders in case of fires in their respective areas.
Mayor Belen Fernandez said the formation of volunteer fire fighting brigades is most needed in island barangays that cannot be reached by BFP fire engines. (PIA/Leonardo Micua)
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